Meditation - How to Begin a Practice
- Leigh Anne Eberle
- Mar 9, 2015
- 2 min read
Often people come up to me and say,” I just don’t know where to start to meditate.” They continue on to explain that they don’t think it will make any difference or that maybe they are not the kind of person who can meditate, but I believe different. Anyone can meditate and you can do meditation anywhere, so long as you’re able to put the “back in five minutes” sign on your head and the door. I often meditate in bed at the start of the day, or while sitting in my parked car before heading into class, during my lunch break, or in the evening as I relax on the couch or enjoy a hot bath. The only consideration is to choose a location and a point during the day where you can sit still and have an undisturbed five minutes … this is the beginning point of any meditation practice.
To define meditation, it is a way of training the mind. Just as regular physical exercise trains the body and keeps it fit, so meditation can be thought of as a method for training the mind and keeping it in a healthy state. We’re all wired differently, so the act of “turning inward” may look very different for you than it does for me. Still, I suggest meditation for everyone; it is the most direct route for getting out of the head and into the heart. Through meditation practice it's possible to develop a positive and clear state of mind. This isn't thinking 'good' thoughts, or painting on a smile. It is bringing out the best inside of you - a way of reducing the build-up of stress, anger and other emotions, which can make life difficult for you and those around you. Everyone needs refuge from the stress, anxiety, fear, loneliness, emptiness, and other aspects of life that can overwhelm us.
Furthermore, many people, through the practice of meditation, experience a sense of connection to something larger than self, but prefer terms like humanity, evolution, the universe, or nature to describe it. Others, with a religious slant, often describe that their connection to God is deepened through practice. Others note that they are happier, more content, and kinder to themselves, others, and the planet without reference to any other constructs.
While the act of meditation is fairly simple — close your eyes and focus on your breath — it can be helpful to use guided imagery. So, close your eyes and focus on your breath. Take a few slow, deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Mentally set the intention to release all negative noise and mind-inspired banter (the monkey mind) with each exhalation and with each inhalation welcome calm, cool thoughts, and relax into your-self. Begin the process again, gently guiding yourself into an alternative state of presence – releasing the mind and body and healing from the inside out. And thus, you have taken the first step into creating a meditation practice. See if you can repeat this continuously for six more days experiencing a weeks worth of meditation, and opening yourself to the many inner possibilities that life has to offer you.
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